Augustine Webb, One of the Cowpens Messengers who was sent by
Daniel Morgan on Christmas Day (December 25 1780) to William
Campbell to ask for help in the upcoming battle of Cowpens. He was
also one of the earliest settlers to explore and move to Fayette
county KY in 1782.
Webb
was born on August 29, 1755 in Hanover county VA. At the start of
the Revolutionary war, Webb joined the Albemarle County militia
from 1775-1776. Troops in Albemarle County saw little action in
the county. The only recorded battle was a small skirmish with
Tarleton at the Broad Ford Rivanna River near Charlottesville VA
in 1781. In 1780, Webb would have the honor of becoming a member
of Morgan Rifles, a unit that was made up of the best
sharpshooters in the Colonies.
In
December 1780, Morgan was camped near the Pacolet River in present
day Spartanburg County SC. On December 25, Morgan sent out
Messengers to several militia commanders for help in the up coming
battle a t the Cowpens. Their message was simple “Come to the
Cowpens to help Daniel Morgan fight Benny Tarleton”. Webb was one
of these messengers. Webb was ordered to travel to Abingdon VA to
enlist the help of William Campbell, Hero of Kings Mountain.
Of all the messengers, Webb had to travel farther than any of the
other messengers. It was a good 10 days journey the best he could
do if he didn’t run into any trouble. Along this journey, Webb not
only ran into trouble, it chased him down in the form of Indians,
British soldiers and bad weather. Indians shot his horses out from
under him and chased him through the woods. While running from the
Indians, he ran into a British column and was taken prisoner. Webb
luckily escaped that night. The closer he got to Abingdon; Webb
ran into deep snow and had to swim through ice filled rivers.
When Webb arrived at Abingdon VA on January 4, 1781, he found
William Campbell at his frontier home on Wolf Hill near present
day Abingdon VA. Campbell had just back from an expedition to
fight Cherokees on the Long Island of the Holston River near
Kingsport TN. Webb and Campbell led a militia unit from VA to the
Cowpens, but arrived one day too late on January 18, 1781 to
participate in the battle of Cowpens.
At
their arrival at the Cowpens, Webb saw the 500 British prisoners
taken during the battle. Webb was then ordered to help take the
prisoners to Salisbury. After his arrival in Salisbury, Webb
resigned his commission and moved to Botetourt County VA where he
joined their militia until the end of 1781
In
1782 while living in Botetourt County, Webb met Elizabeth
Crittenden. From this union that had 4 children. Later that year
Webb moved his family through the Cumberland Gap on his way to
Boonesborough. After his arrival in Boonesborough, Webb
participated in the battle of Blue licks on August 19, 1782.
The
battle of Blue licks was the worst defeat the settlers of KY ever
faced while fighting the Shawnee Indians. 72 frontiersmen were
killed. Webb barely escaped with his life. The Battle of Blue
licks was the last Revolutionary war battle fought in KY and the
last battle Webb would participate in. Later that year Webb moved
to Fayette County.
In
1827, Elizabeth died and Webb soon married Francis Clarke. They
would have 1 child from this union. In 1832, Webb moved to Bullitt
county KY where he applied for a pension. On February 25, 1835
Webb died and was buried near his home place. Francis soon applied
for a widow’s pension after his death in 1835.
During the Civil war, descendents of Webb fought on both sides.
In Bullitt County KY, the railroad trestles at Shepardsville and
Lebanon Junction were frequent objects of destruction by
Confederate Troops.